Last night I tried CIO with one of my kiddos. I put him down at 6:30pm and fell asleep right away. He woke up at 7pm and cried for 3 minutes and fell back to sleep. He then woke up at 1:15am and cried until my husband went and picked him up at 3:50am. My husband changed his diaper and he was wide awake and smiling. He didn't seem to want a bottle (whereas before he was waking up and eating 3ozs). When he was changing his diaper, he let 4 huge grown ones rip so I'm not sure if that's what was bothering him and he wouldn't go back to sleep. Is 2.5 hours too long? I didn't go in there at all because I know he would only get more upset if I did. He usually watches the door and sees me the second I walk into the room. I also read the sticky on twinstuff regarding the Ferber method and how it's only recommended for babies without medical conditions. Is extreme gas considered a medical condition? Should I not be letting him CIO because he's so uncomfortable? He's still swaddled, so I'm thinking that he may not be able to pass it because he's so tight in his swaddle. I've tried the sleep sack and he wakes himself up constantly. Should I try CIO with a sleep sack instead?
I am not sure I would do a full CIO for over 2 hours on a 5 month old. But that is JMO. Were they full-term? Because it is possible that the sleep side of the brain is just not mature yet or he may just need to eat at some point throughtout the night. FWIW mine woke once a night to eat until they were almost 8 months old--but they were also a couple of months early.
I always went to them at night, and they almost always ate, even at that age, but I breastfed and they went back to sleep very quickly. Once I knew they weren't hungry, they would usually go back within 10 minutes, once in a blue moon we'd rock and rock, etc. I have to admit, it was easier to nurse them even if I don't think they were really hungry, than to get them to go back to sleep any other way! I agree with the PP that under 6 months is too early. And after 6 months, I did do CIO with my DS for naps, and would never let him go for more than an hour. So my answer would be 1 hour, and not before 6 months. Yes, I do think over two hours is too long, but don't feel bad, that's just my opinion. All babies are differnt. Also, if he's fussing that much in the middle of the night, it would make me think there was something wrong. If it's every night, then maybe it is just a fussy baby, but once in a blue moon...we all have our bad nights... I hope you your little ones get a good nights sleep tonight!
My doc says that her opinion is that you shouldn't let babies CIO until they have a "toolbox" of self-soothing tools. She said that ours are too young at 4 months b/c #1 they were a month early and #2 they have no tools. They can't put their own paci back in, they can't suck their thumb, they can't let you know if they are soiled or need to burp ... or have spit up all over themselves ... We haven't let ours CIO for these reasons. If, once they have some "tools," they are still so hard to put down (we rock them to a dead sleep ... or 'rock 'em to REM' as my husband says and sometimes it takes 2 or 3 rockings ...) we may let them fuss some ... I don't think I will ever let them cry for hours just b/c mine do not sleep through the others wailings and they are in the same room. Who knows though ... I may just get THAT frustrated one day. To each her own ... this is just my opinion. I have had friends who had GREAT success with CIO. One friend ... her baby cried for 4 hours the first night (and she sat outside of his room and cried with him) and the next night he cried for like 3 minutes and has been sleeping through the night ever since. Tempting, isn't it!?!?!?
I just spoke with our doctor about this today at our four month check up. He said he doesn't recommend CIO for any baby under 6 months old. I shared my concerns that I just don' t think I can handle doing this, but I also don't want to contribute to bad sleep habits. I guess there is a happy medium between cutting them off to completely soothe themselves and allowing them to be too clingy. As of right now, I can deal with their fussing and whimpering and even the occasional cry while I get bottles ready. But when they break into full hysterical mode, it breaks my heart.
QUOTE I also don't want to contribute to bad sleep habits Don't worry about habits! They are really too young to have habits yet. Babies don't even start getting a clue about cause and effect ("If I do this, than x happens") until at least 6 months, so it is impossible for them to manipulate you at this age. It's not like they're thinking, "Oh, if I cry, then I can make mom do whatever I want!" They're just trying to communicate that they need help. When they start being able to self-soothe, you'll notice. You'll see them do stuff when they're frustrated during wake time - my DD started sucking her thumb when she'd get tired or hungry. You'll know when they're ready, no need to push it.
I did CIO with all of my boys and they never cried for longer than 20 minutes at a time so I am not sure what to tell you! It does seem too long to let him cry for 2.5 hours though. :hug99:
